WordGarden.iopacket
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈækɪt/
US
- /ˈpækət/
Meanings
Noun
a small package, wrapper, or bundle of items grouped together
a formatted unit of digital data sent across a network
Beyond the definition
Imagine a small bundle of papers, a little wrapper of sugar, or some seeds for your garden. That is often what a "packet" is: a small group of things kept together. You might get a packet in the mail with forms or information inside, or pick up a packet of salt at a cafe. But "packet" is not only about physical things. In the world of computers, a data packet is a small piece of information sent across the internet, like a digital envelope carrying part of a message. So, whether it is something you can hold in your hand or something moving through a network, a packet is a small unit kept together as one thing.
A "packet" originally referred to a small bundle of goods, something tied up neatly for transport or sale. Think of a packet of seeds, a packet of biscuits, or a small packet of medicine. It usually suggests something contained and fairly compact. For example, "She received a packet from her grandmother containing old photographs."
However, the meaning has expanded over time. In modern usage, "packet" can refer to any collection of items treated as a single unit. This could be a packet of information (like a press packet sent to journalists) or a packet of instructions for a new project. In some regions, you might even hear the colloquial expression "to make a packet," which means to earn a large sum of money.
In the digital world, a "packet" is also a small unit of data sent over a network like the internet. When you send an email or open a website, your device breaks the information into many packets before sending them. These packets are then put back together at the other end. Whether it is a physical bundle of goods, a set of documents, or a small piece of digital data, "packet" suggests a contained and manageable unit, a small but important part of a larger whole.
Examples
- 1
Food packaging
She tore open a packet of crackers and put them on the table.
- 2
Condiments
Could you grab a packet of ketchup for my fries?
- 3
Garden seeds
The seeds come in small packets with planting instructions on the back.
- 4
Workplace onboarding
New employees receive an information packet on their first day.
- Phraseinformation packet
a set of papers or files with useful information
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Networking
The video froze because some data packets were lost.
- Domaindata packet
a small unit of information sent over a network
- 6
British earnings
After tax, his pay packet was smaller than he expected.
- Usagepay packet
the money someone earns; mainly British English
- 7
British idiom
That repair must have cost a packet.
- Usagecost a packet
cost a lot of money; mainly British English
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- packetnounverb
Forms
- packetspluralnounverb
- packetedpast tenseverbnoun
- packeting-ing formverbnoun